Josh Charles talks about the lasting emotional impact of his exit from The good wifeadmitting that he wasn’t entirely prepared for how strongly fans would react to the death of his character, Will Gardner.
More than a decade later, the reactions continue to follow him, reminding him of the deep connection viewers have formed with the series and its characters.
In an interview published by The Hollywood Reporter On January 15, Charles reflected on his departure from the legal drama in 2014.
While he was involved in the decision to leave the series during its fifth season, he said the extent of the public reaction caught him off guard.
“I knew it would be a surprise, but the impact and response to it was honestly, I wasn’t completely prepared myself,” the 54-year-old shared.
“You live in these bubbles and forget that, oh my God, there are a lot of people watching this who are invested in the show. You forget sometimes.”
The actor explained that the experience made him truly appreciate the power of television storytelling.
He described how the audience doesn’t just watch the characters, they emotionally invest in them and follow their journeys closely.
This realization, he said, was both humbling and eye-opening, reinforcing why the stories are so important to viewers.
Charles starred in The good wife from its premiere in September 2009 to its unexpected release in 2014, but the series’ influence has not faded.
According to the actor, fans still contact us regularly to share how his character’s death has affected them.
“I have people, every day, texting me or coming up to me. ‘I just saw this for the first time.’ “I just rewatched that and started sobbing again.” “It was like watching a friend die.” It’s a strange thing to experience, but I’m really proud of it,” he said.
Looking back, Charles said the goal was always to create characters that people really cared about.
“At the end of the day, you’re trying to create characters that people care about, that they connect with. And I think people did that with him,” he added.
He also reflected fondly on his time working with creators Robert and Michelle King, saying he went into the series not knowing what to expect, but came away with a deep appreciation and love for the experience.
